A British mum has shared a warning to others after her 12-year-old son died doing a TikTok trend called ‘chroming’.
Oliver Gorman’s mum Clare Gillespie wants to warn others of the dangers of this viral trend, which sees children inhaling aerosols.
What is ‘chroming’ and why are kids doing it?
Chroming - also known as ‘huffing’ - is a trend that originated on TikTok, and it involves kids inhaling gases from aerosol cans in order to get high.
12-year-old Oliver Gorman was killed after inhaling gas from aerosol deodorants, and now his mother wants to stop the same from happening to someone else.
An inquest into the British school student’s death took place at Manchester South Coroner’s Court, and found that Oliver had been the victim of bullying but was otherwise a happy and sociable boy.
Oliver Gorman. Credit: Family Handout
His mum also wanted to warn parents about the emojis that she observed on social media that could have been revealing as to his mental health - as documented in the TV show Adolescence.
Clare said: “I don't know whether Oliver did that to escape.
“As a mother that hurts me.
“Every Christmas we have a standing joke that we never have so many chocolates, deodorants and gift sets.
“There were symbols on Oliver's TikTok account.
“I had never seen them before so I looked at Google.
“In the Netflix series Adolescence they used these symbols.
“Oliver felt low and he turned to social media.
“I don't believe he did it to take his life.
“I think it was something that went terribly wrong.”
She continued: “If there is one thing, I want to make sure parents know the risk of what these things can do. He was a sweet boy, a lovely family boy.”
Oliver's mum Clare wants to raise awareness. Credit: Family Handout
Trying to prevent further death
Now, Clare has started a petition called Oliver’s Awareness to highlight the problems posed by social media, as well as as bullying and solvent abuse.
She added: “If we can raise awareness in one place, in 10 places, in a million places.
“Every teenage boy gets a Lynx.
“I can't use anything like that anymore.
“I used to be a hairdresser for 26 years but I can't even use a hair spray.”
Oliver went into his room after a family holiday on May 5 2025, but was found by his mother shortly afterwards.
He wasn’t breathing.
Emergency services were called and Oliver was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Five aerosol containers were discovered in his bedroom, and the coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.
Assistant coroner Andrew Bridgman said: “There is no evidence that Oliver deliberately inhaled the aerosol with the intention of ending his own life.
“It strikes me this chroming comes from TikTok challenges.
"It is clear when you look at the TikTok challenges it is really quite frightening what is put out by social media which affects the young minds of people like Oliver. There needs to be more awareness.”
He added: “A major concern is that TikTok disseminates these challenges without any regard to the wellbeing of those who subscribe to it.
“It concerns me that these life-threatening challenges go out on TikTok and are so easily accessible.
“Maybe it is the culture secretary I need to write to about that.
“Hopefully between us we can prevent the future loss of young lives.”
After the hearing concluded, Clare said: “Social media is a disgrace. I got on Facebook to speak to relatives.
“Now there are people daring other children to take their own lives or do something that could end up horrendous.
“People are going to lose their children's lives because of these trends.
“This one kills.”